Construction on the Children's Researh Institute has begun! And the next step, which started December 17, is to drive test piles and the utility tunnel piles. Pile driving equipment is on site now and will drive a total of 8 pilings over a 4-5 day period.

The piles are steel, non-displacement, "H" piles. Non-displacement means they displace less soil than other shapes, while having the same amount of surface area needed to provide "surface friction". This is a good thing!

Once the piles are driven into the ground they will sit for 7 days. Two of the piles will then be tested to verify their load-bearing capacity. A platform will be built onto the pile and loaded with concrete weights. Settlement will be measured, then the pile will be unloaded to determine whether or not the pile rebounds to its original position.

The construction project management will be monitoring vibration from the pile driving in 10 locations throughout the Basic Science Building, near Waring Library, the Hazardous Waste Building, and in the surrounding neighborhood along Ashley Avenue.